IGN Exclusive Interview: Kristen Bell

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The Veronica Mars star on season 3, playing a Star Wars geek in Fanboys, and her upcoming videogame role in Assassin's Creed.

By Eric Goldman

Just a few days after the culmination of the first Veronica Mars mystery arc of the third season, I had the opportunity to speak to Kristen Bell for an exclusive chat with IGN, to try to get some dirt on what's to come in 2007 for her ever-clever teenaged detective character. The third season saw a change in the format to her series, and recent comments by Veronica Mars creator/Executive Producer Rob Thomas hinted that the end of the season could see yet another alteration.

2006 was a busy year for Bell, and we also discussed her role in the upcoming Star Wars inspired film Fanboys, not to mention her experience having her face and body scanned for an upcoming PC, PS3 and Xbox 360 videogame, Assassin's Creed. And if you're wondering what videogames Kristen Bell enjoys playing in her down time, well look no further&#Array;

IGN TV: The last Veronica Mars was an exciting episode that wrapped up the first arc of the season. How was that to film?

Kristen Bell: You know, it was amazing, because Rob Thomas actually wrote and directed it. We get him to do about one a season. He'll write the whole thing himself and actually come down and direct it, which is exciting, because he's our creator and sort of has the voices of every character so in his head; he just knows them inside and out. And I think it's probably our best episode to date, to be honest with you.

IGN TV: With the crimes and mysteries on the show, are you told early on who's behind it?

Bell: It depends. Sometimes I ask, sometimes they share. It's not like they give us a paper that maps it out, because I know that sometimes they've had to change it up, if they feel it needs to be more simple or more complex. But I do know a lot about this year. I know a little bit what's gonna happen and yeah, I know almost the end of the season I think.

IGN TV: Oh, really?

Bell: I know, I was on the inside ring. I feel so privileged, because a lot of times they don't tell you!

Kristen Bell as Veronica Mars

IGN TV: Do you have people who are big fans wanting to know the answers and trying to get information from you?

Bell: Yeah, it's hard to keep it a secret, but I always want people to watch and be surprised, so I've never leaked anything, as of yet.

IGN TV: You're filming the second arc of the season now, right?

Bell: Yeah.

IGN TV: And that's obviously going to be about the murder of the Dean, right?

Bell: Yessssss. Murder&#Array; question mark?

IGN TV: Oooooh, interesting.

Bell: It's about the "murder, question mark" of the Dean.

IGN TV: Now Rob said recently that there's a possibility you might not do the third mystery arc you had planned for the season. Do you know yet if they've decided what to do?

Bell: I don't know for sure, but I know that a lot of thought goes into each season, before they start writing. This is not just a show where they write and they say, "Oh, this sounds like a good storyline!" Rob and the writing room puts an enormous amount of effort into how the structure of the season will affect the fans and how everyone will enjoy it, and what will make people have to think the most and challenge them. I think [he's considering] that, since we got the back seven [episode order], as opposed to the back nine, because The CW is having everyone end on the same week this year. So we premiered two weeks late, so we're only doing seven. I think they're thinking about doing the second arc, and then having the last four episodes be sort of standalones, and have character development, but not actually have&#Array; We don't want to cram too much into four episodes and have people feel rushed or [like it's] too convoluted.